The concept of a Think Tank has long been synonymous with the idea of a group of people getting together to work out complex problems and bounce ideas off of each other. To that end, a small group of THINKers got together to form a learning center, whose aim is to do just that: foster a community of thinkers while teaching them the necessary skills to stay at the top of their field. In our talk with Mr. Mubarak Al Hmoud, still basking in the glow from the recent graduation of their first patch, he explains the in’s and out’s of the Think Tank, and what it is that they hope to achieve in the coming years.
What exactly is the Think Tank?
Think Tank is an IT training hub with a new teaching philosophy. We have decided not to use the more traditional role of merely reciting textbooks, nor performing replays of YouTube clips, as apprentices can do that on their own. We will primarily use an interactive workshop teaching method in order to connect with our apprentices directly. This way, we make sure, that our workshops are well communicated to feed hungry minds, in a very close and creative way.
Can you give us some information on the Founders and Managers?
We are a team of six, Think Tank is managed by Mr. Abdulaziz Al Rushaid and led by yours truly. Backed up with my MBA and local market experience, I like to think of myself as the team’s Artist. Mr. Abdulaziz Al Rushaid is a self taught IT guru, he loves, actually adores IT books, and is a huge fan of both Apple’s and Adobe’s technologies and gadgets. Think Tank’s league of extraordinary men are; “The Body Guard” the International Certified Programmer Eng. Abdallah Nasrallah; “The Consigliere”, a real ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) Eng. Mohammad Salah; “The Decorator” and caretaker Mr. Hani Salah; and our Full Time super hero/part time human Eng. Jassim Kabiri.
When did you decide to establish Think Tank?
Mr. Al Rushaid’s passion for knowledge ignited the need of transferring Think Tank from paper into the real world. His eagerness to learn real skills that are tangibly sought after in the local market are a tremendous help. This helps us to focus on what is cool and fun, but also what matters in the long run.
What do you offer at Think Tank?
Right now we only offer two sets of programs: designing courses and programming courses. Our aim is to focus on building teams of well-informed coders and artists, by communicating best practices of each specified career. We are planning to provide two more sets of new programs that haven’t been introduced into the local market yet.
Most local corporations make profits first, then they work on their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) . At Think Tank we pride ourselves on doing CSR first! We provide courses on how to use your iDevice (iPhone, iPad, and iPod) and your Mac (MacBook Air or Pro, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro) for absolutely no charge, for example. This community service is just one way we like to get involved and help.
Who are your targeted clients?
Entrepreneurs who would like to boost their knowledge, geeks who would like to be able to produce cooler projects, managers who would like to elevate their professional skills, and smart kids as young as 8 years old.
Who can benefit from Think Tank?
Everybody! Experts, beginners, self-taught, moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas, and we mean it when we say everybody. We truly believe that we have a bit to offer everybody.
Do you have any advice for young ambitious people?
Never hold information, always share it. Learn what interests you; and learn only what matters.
For those of you in the market for new IT skills and looking to stay current on all the new goings on in the world of computers, or even just looking for that community space where you can get together with like-minded people who share your passion for all things tech, be sure to check out the guys at the Think Tank.
For more information, visit www.thinknat.com.kw, follow them on Twitter @thinktankq8, Facebook, and Instagram: @thinktankq8. Think Tank is located in Kuwait City, on Abdullah Al Mubarak Street in Star Tower, 3rd floor. For their latest course schedules, you can also call: 2239 8089 or cell: 9923 2828.
